State Dept Tightens Third-Country National Visa Appointments, Policy Changes

The U.S. Department of State has moved to sharply limit Third Country National (TCN) visa appointments, telling most people seeking nonimmigrant visas to apply in their country of nationality or legal residence. The policy was announced on September 6, 2025, and by September 16, 2025 consular posts were applying the new approach. Applicants outside their home country should expect tougher questions, fewer approvals, and longer waits.

What the new guidance says

The State Department directs that nonimmigrant visa applicants should apply where they are nationals or where they legally reside. While there are limited exceptions, the guidance discourages the common strategy of booking interviews in a third country to avoid long waits at home.

Key points:
– Existing TCN appointments generally stand, but officers may apply higher scrutiny and can increase processing time.
– New TCN appointments will be harder to obtain; applicants who reschedule at a different post cannot transfer or refund the original fee.
– Diplomatic and special categories—A, G, NATO, and C‑2/3 visas—are exempt from the restriction.
– Rare case-by-case exceptions may be available for humanitarian needs, medical emergencies, or foreign policy reasons, but officers have wide discretion and approvals are unlikely without compelling evidence.
– The move aligns with a broader tightening of visa systems and more focus on security vetting and stricter documentation standards (analysis by VisaVerge.com).

The guidance effectively discourages the once-common strategy of seeking an earlier interview date in a third country—often used by students, workers with urgent starts, or families planning travel around school breaks.

Immediate practical effects

Applicants who attempt to apply outside their country of nationality or legal residence should expect:
– Stronger eligibility checks and more probing questions about why they are applying away from their home post.
– Longer wait times in many cases.
– Requests to first apply in the home country or the country of lawful residence.
– Requirement to show firm evidence of residence where they booked the interview, such as:
– Residence card
– Lease agreement
– Long-term work contract
– Other local documents proving ties

Without such proof, applicants may be refused an interview slot or told to reapply at home.

Special cases and countries without U.S. consular services

• For nationals of countries without U.S. consular operations, the State Department has long designated specific posts (for example, nationals of Haiti have been directed to apply in Nassau). Those designated arrangements continue.
• Under the new guidance, officers will expect applicants to follow designated routes rather than booking in a third country purely for convenience.

Background: why TCN appointments were used

• Visa backlogs and regional differences in wait times made TCN appointments a pressure valve for years.
• After the pandemic, some posts reopened faster than others; travelers often shifted appointments to posts with shorter lines, sometimes cutting months off their wait.
• The new limits close that path for most applicants; officers are notifying applicants at scheduling and again at the interview window.

Related policy shift that increases pressure

Two weeks earlier, on September 2, 2025, the State Department eliminated most interview waivers for nonimmigrant visas. This:
– Routed many applicants back into interview queues
– Strained consular capacity further
– Combined with TCN limits to create a more rigid system with fewer workarounds

Broader enforcement context

Security-focused changes are increasing across immigration systems:
– U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is reviewing tougher citizenship tests and stricter oversight of work programs for foreign students.
– USCIS Director Joseph Edlow defended rules allowing officers to consider “anti-American” views in immigration cases; the stated aim is to target terrorist ideology.
– While separate from consular processing, these trends reflect more intense vetting, less front-line discretion, and a higher bar to qualify.

Guidance for applicants holding existing TCN appointments

• The State Department has not ordered blanket cancellations — many interviews will proceed.
• Expect higher scrutiny. Officers may ask:
  • Why you are not applying in your country of nationality or residence
  • For proof of ties to the place where you booked the interview
• Example scenarios:
  • A software engineer from India with temporary residence in the UAE could still apply in Dubai if she lives and works there — but she must carry proof of residence and employment.
  • A tourist from Brazil in Mexico for a week trying to book a visitor visa in Tijuana is unlikely to be accepted unless there is a genuine emergency.

Policy intent and consular discretion

• The policy is intended to narrow TCN processing, not end it entirely.
• Consular sections have always had discretion to reject or refuse TCN applications; the shift is that the State Department now directs posts to use that discretion more frequently, especially when requests appear motivated by convenience or line‑skipping.

Fees and refunds

• Appointments and fees are nontransferable. If you paid the machine-readable visa fee in one country and later try to shift your appointment to another, the fee usually cannot be moved and refunds are not available.
• This can create significant additional cost for applicants on tight budgets (airfare, housing deposits, school start changes).

Expanded vetting and administrative processing

• The State Department has expanded social media screening and continuous vetting for visa applicants.
• These tools can lengthen case review times and push cases into administrative processing if officers need to resolve identity, travel history, or online activity questions.
• Consequences:
  • Students may miss orientation or the start of classes.
  • Healthcare workers or short-term transferees may not arrive in time for critical staffing needs.

Quote and reactions

• Experts tracking student mobility, business travel, and family visits warn of widespread impact.
• Erik Finch, Director of Global Operations at Boundless, criticized the change for making it harder for people seeking education or work in the U.S. 🇺🇸.
• Education agents and university advisors expect more late arrivals this fall; employers may postpone assignments or rely on remote work; families may face higher rebooking costs and scheduling disruptions.

Policy Changes Overview (Summary)

Under the new guidance, consulates prioritize cases filed in the applicant’s country of nationality or legal residence. That means:
– Booking in a third country for faster access is discouraged and often denied.
– Officers may accept TCN cases only in narrow situations, such as when the applicant shows clear residence in the country of application or qualifies for a specific exception.
– Diplomatic and special categories—A, G, NATO, C‑2/3—are exempt.
– Rare exceptions exist for humanitarian, medical, or foreign policy reasons, but they are unlikely without strong proof.
– Existing TCN appointments generally stand, but expect increased scrutiny and possible longer waits.
– Visa fees are not transferable across posts, and refunds are not available if you cancel to rebook elsewhere.

The State Department also restated residence requirements: if you are not applying in your country of nationality, you must show you legally live in the country where you apply. Officers expect documents proving lawful presence and ongoing ties (residence permit, national ID linked to an address, work contract, long-term lease).

Impact on specific groups

Students:
– Many relied on TCN appointments to start programs on time.
– A student from Nigeria who previously found a slot in Accra or Dubai may now be told to apply in Abuja or Lagos.
– Consequences: deferred terms, delayed housing, rescheduled flights, and potential loss of scholarships.

Workers:
– Employers in tech, energy, construction, and health care often need fast reporting by transferees.
– Without TCN flexibility, companies may postpone assignments or rely on remote work, impacting budgets and service delivery.

Families:
– Parents attending graduations, weddings, or births may face long waits for home‑country slots and higher travel costs.
– The policy increases the risk of missed life events.

Nationals of countries without U.S. consular services:
– Must follow the State Department’s designated post guidance (e.g., Haiti → Nassau).
– Trying to book in a different country purely for faster dates is unlikely to succeed.

Implementation details and practical steps

Applicants should prepare thoroughly. Recommended actions:
1. Apply in your country of nationality or where you are a lawful resident.
2. If you live abroad, bring strong proof of residence: residence card, work permit, long-term lease, or utility bills tied to your name/address.
3. If seeking a humanitarian, medical, or foreign policy exception, gather clear supporting records (medical letters, hospital schedules, official letters). Understand exceptions are rare.
4. Build in extra time for waits, security reviews, and possible administrative processing.
5. Do not count on moving your fee—plan to pay a new fee if you switch posts.
6. Follow designated post guidance if your home country lacks a U.S. consulate.
7. Watch official updates — policies and local scheduling calendars may change quickly.

Decision tips:
– If your TCN slot is soon and you can show residence in that country, it may be worth attending.
– If your TCN slot is months away and your home post has improved, rebooking at home may be better even though you will likely lose the original fee.
– Students should consult their international office before changing plans; employers should consult mobility teams or counsel.

Where to find official information

For current policy statements, consular post links, and travel advisories, visit the State Department’s official site: https://travel.state.gov. Individual embassies and consulates post local scheduling policies, TCN acceptance rules, and required documents.

If you face urgent or exceptional circumstances

• Applicants with urgent medical or humanitarian needs should contact the post directly with supporting documents (hospital letters, physician statements, official notices).
• Keep requests focused, factual, and well‑documented — the bar for exceptions is high but officers can act when the facts are compelling.
• Business travelers should coordinate early with company counsel or immigration advisors and prepare employer letters describing the trip’s purpose and the applicant’s role.

The State Department’s direction is simple: apply where you are a national or where you live. For Third Country National applicants, that means the window has narrowed. For families, students, and employers, plans must adjust. For consular posts, the change means a return to tighter jurisdiction lines, more consistent screening, and fewer exceptions.

What to expect going forward

• Expect posts to refine how they screen for residence ties and exceptions and to publish clearer guidance and document lists.
• If you receive an email requesting proof of residence before your appointment, respond quickly and completely to avoid cancellation.
• The trend toward tighter controls — increased social media checks and continuous vetting — will likely continue. If more changes come, they may affect renewals, number of released interview slots, or evidence required at the window.

Prepare by filing in the right place, documenting ties carefully, and building extra time into your travel and work plans.